William Bennett, San Francisco Symphony oboist was 56

The longtime San Francisco Symphony oboist who was stricken by a cerebral hemorrhage Saturday night while performing Richard Strauss’ Oboe Concerto with the orchestra at Davies Symphony Hall, died this morning. He was 56. Music director Michael Tilson Thomas issued a statement in which he said Bennett’s death “has left a terrible, sad emptiness in the hearts of the whole San Francisco Symphony family,” and praised Bennett as “a great artist, an original thinker, and a wonderful man.” Obituary: Chronicle